India. Week 15.

Hindi, Hindi and more Hindi. Everyday my brain is fried with trying to learn new sounds, words or phrases. I knew this was going to be a major step for me, learning a script language, but in some areas it has been easier than I thought and in others it has been far more difficult.

My friend, Brittany and I have almost finished learning the alphabet. As we walk or drive down the streets we try and read the signs painted on the side of the road and even though we cannot make sense of what the word means, being able to pronounce it fills us with joy. Accomplishment.

Back in time…

At the beginning of March I waved my loved team of 13 girls off to the USA to graduate their DTS. It was hard to believe that two and a half months had flown by. We had had jam packed days of ministry, loving on dirty children on the streets, doing programs at a school, preaching at Churches, encouraging Pastors, praying healing over the sick in a village and seeing healings! And combing out knotted hair of kids in the slums.

Each of the girls on my team grew so dear to my heart, watching them push past the hard things, encouraging one another when they wanted to be passive and most importantly letting God rule in each area of their lives. We saw victories, testimonies were made, healings happened and light called the darkness out.

I had the great pleasure of leading with my friend, Sarah. She is a precious woman who loves Jesus with her whole heart. It was her second time to India, we both share a passion for this nation. I could not have asked for a better support, I can honestly say she was my rock in many situations.

What an awesome God we serve, that He would enable me to be in my heartland, learning a new language among people whom I treasure dearly all in hopes of returning here long term.

Next Step…

Brittany and I have two months left here in India before we return to North Carolina. Please be praying for good health, for us to be made stronger, not only in our relationship with each other but with God too, for protection in our travels and for a continued focus on what we are here to do…

Vision…

Most of you already know my heart in wanting to move to India to help those involved in human sex trafficking…this is the time that both Brittany and I are taking time to pray into this vision that we have. For more insight and clarity into what God is speaking. I’m so excited that this plan He has given us is being brought into reality.

Thank you all for your continued love, prayers and support.

India.

I’m sitting in a small classroom, in the city of Jaipur listening to exotic birds coo in the trees and children out playing on the streets.

Everyday I have woken up in this beautiful land thinking how blessed I am to be here. For me there is no place like India. Although I’m tired and sometimes I get frustrated I cannot think of a better place to be.

At the moment we’re working with slum children, teaching them Bible stories in school and visiting their homes each week to do health care (hair cutting, teeth cleaning and doing their nails). It’s wonderful to build relationships not only with the children themselves but with their families. Some of them are from Christian homes so we’re able to share our testimonies, verses that are special to us and teach them songs.

My Hindi learning is slow! But it’s always fun to learn words like “shanti” (meaning quiet) from the children.

One special friend to me is Sheba, she’s a 14 year old who does not come from a Christian home, however she loves the Lord with all of her heart, you can tell simply by the way she smiles. We are constantly reading scripture together. Every week I’ll be able to visit her, drink some chai with her, listen to how her week as been and talk more about the Bible. It’s precious children like her that need encouragement to stay strong even though times are hard.

I cannot express how much I love each of these dear children. They are precious to my heart.

We will be here in Jaipur for the next four weeks, reaching out to the local community, encouraging those around us and praying, praying, praying!!!

God has been speaking a lot to me through the life of David recently, how even though he was by no means a perfect man he continued to repent, receive forgiveness and walk out in the grace that God gives so freely. Sometimes it's so easy for me to strive for perfection and then kick myself when I make mistakes and fail but God doesn't call us to that...He calls us learn from our mistakes and lean on Him for the strength that we need to do better next time.

Please remember our team in your prayers with good health, pray against passivity and a continued love of life here.

Here's a few pictures of our outreach so far:

New Blog.

I've been working on putting a new blog together on a new website. I will not be updating this blog anytime soon, so here's the link to the new one:

http://www.arkpages.com/laurabeth/

Enjoy!

Sun filled gardens with orange lilies and honey bees.

Each year I jet across the Atlantic ocean to a place I've once called home. Here I am again, sitting in my family's cottage, snacking on biscuits, watching Wimbledon and hearing the cars buzz by on the country lanes.

Every time I come back to England I wonder how it's all going to look. I begin to think about who must be taller than me, because they've turned 12 or 13. I ponder on how much more mature my little brother and sister are going to be, because they're not really little anymore. And I continue to imagine...

Everything can change in a year, heights and weights, sounds and looks, buildings and towns and people. We have a choice, we can reject the change, or we can embrace it. I know which I would rather do.

This past year the Lord has changed so much within me and is continuing to transform me into a likeness of Him. Work in progress. I recently heard a quote, something that is written on Ruth Bell Graham's headstone: "End of construction. Thank you for your patience." Wow. What a statement!

Since I've been here, I've celebrated my 22nd birthday, been to the American embassy and had my visa accepted-Praise Jesus, had a meeting with my youth pastor, cheered on Novak Djokovic (from home), seen my friends at Church and hung out with my extended family.

On July 20th I'll be winding my way back to North Carolina to continue my journey over there. Please be praying that my three more weeks at home will be restful, productive and filled with the Lord.

Gabrielle.

I was wanting to post photos, just for a little more insight into my life recently. However with Facebook it's been more tricky to copy pictures, it may take me a while to figure things out.

Anyway...

This morning I'm at my base director's house, babysitting their precious girl from Togo. She'd woken up this morning and was all dressed and ready but when she tried to eat breakfast she conked right out. I've been watching her sleep and I have to say, there's nothing more precious than watching a content child...snoring. This little girl, Gabi, has a special place in my heart.

I think about when I first met her last summer. She was a small 3 year old with big wondering eyes. It must be strange to be pulled away from everything you've ever known, from a small village in Africa to a bustling city in the south. Now if you saw her you almost wouldn't be able to recognise her. She's grown a bigger belly, she's far more responsive and walks without any aid.

I've been pondering on how much I love this bundle of joy, and my thoughts soon change from me to God. How He's always had her on His mind, from before the world was made. How He has a BIG plan for her, one that is bigger than she could ever imagine. And how much more He must love her, His precious princess.

We've shared some sweet moments together, giggles, hugs and talks. I can't wait for my little friend to wake up.

The Pocket Book.

I was expecting to wake up these May mornings to the sun streaming though my window...in Cambodia, however because of visa situations I'm writing my thoughts out in my bedroom of Monroe, North Carolina. I don't mind. Yes, I'm sad that I can't smell the Cambodian spices or hug a dirty child on the side of the road or listen to the honking of horns on the busy road sides but I know that God has something bigger in mind...

Already I'm learning the importance of placing God first. I still fail at this all the time but each time I pick myself back up and say "okay God! Let's do this again!" Why is it so easy to put the things of this world before our Creator? There's no sense in it, yet I do it all the time.

Another big thing for me is learning to rise up to the challenges that are placed in my path and overcome them in the name of God. Through this I realise that the areas that I'm strongest in, are not the ones that I've succeeded in, but the ones that I've failed the most in.

People often ask me what it is I do, I'm sure it can be funny to meet a 21 year old girl who's a missionary, in the Bible Belt of all places! You want to know? I'm going to let you in on a few more details than I give the everyday grocery shopper.

My day starts (or should start!) at 5:30...getting up and getting my butt out the door to exercise for an hour. 6:30 and I'm ready for a shower! 7:00 rolls around and I'm sitting on the Front Porch having breakfast with Jesus as the sun rises. At 8:00 I'm finishing up things that need to be prepared for the day, such as, making sure I have hand outs ready, announcements sorted out, that whoever is leading has all the notes they need etc. And at 8:30 we gather together, WISE School and staff to sing our hearts out or to intercede. 9:30 and the guest speaker comes in to take lectures until lunchtime. The afternoons are then filled with administration work, evangelism and Front Porch (our kids club ministry). All I got to say is life is fun and I wouldn't have it any other way.

A couple of months ago my friend gave me a small notebook, from India. Receiving gifts is one of my love languages and with this journal, it really hit the nail on the head. As she gave it to me our guest speaker for the week said, "I know what you should use this for! Little by little fill this up with quotes that you can gain wisdom from. And would you allow me to be the first to write in it?" So I now carry this pocket book around with me in my purse and slowly but surely it is getting filled up with treasures. I want to learn.

So life trundles on whether I'm in Cambodia, India, England or the US and the most important thing is...how am I going to make the most of every day, wherever I am? I don't want to miss a second, each one is too precious.

Hillsong - This Is Our God - With Subtitles/Lyrics - HD Version

I'll be leaving on a Jet Plane...

I realise it's been a month since I last updated. My bad. It's been a time filled with welcoming teams back from India, having lots of meetings, having teams from other places come and stay overnight, worship, evangelism, fun and laughter, prayer and lots of Jesus.

We've had guest speakers who have challenged us on our theology, people who have called our rubbish out and others who have encouraged us. Hard but good! I think these are all things that need to happen as part of the transformation process.

This weekend has been a free one. Three of the students went home and the rest of us stayed on "base". Yesterday the sun was shining, so I slapped on the sun screen and ate my poached egg breakfast on the front porch with the lover of my soul. Can't think of a better way to start any day. We joked around, we sat in silence and we had deep conversations...ones that are continuing as we speak.

Last night we hooked up the projector to watch Pride and Prejudice on the big screen however we began to watch worship songs online and ended up singing our hearts out and dancing before God for quite a while! :) We eventually started the movie...And then it was late to bed and late to rise.

Recently a song that the Lord has laid on my heart is This is our God by Hillsong. You'll find it in the post below this one. YOUR GRACE IS ENOUGH, MORE THAN I NEED.

I can honestly say that my life has been transformed this last month. It's been a time of me falling deeper and deeper in love with my Creator. I would dearly love to be able to write how much I love Him on this page, but words wouldn't do it justice. I know that by my actions, my love for others, the joy in my eyes and the way that I praise Him, that will explain it. "Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." -1 John 3:18.

Starting April 11th, I have been asked to lead our Discipleship Training School students on their outreach to Cambodia. I feel so privileged to be a part of this. We'll be there for a total of two months, working with those in poverty, children and the lost. I will give you more details later on. In order for me to do this I need to raise a total of $2000. Please will you prayerfully consider financially partnering with me in this? I also need prayer for wisdom, strength, patience and lots of love! :)

So many of you are already supporting me financially and prayerfully and I am very blessed by your generosity. Thank you all.

Until next time...

Sundays.

It's Sunday afternoon, the sun's rays are shining through the window panes in the Blakeney House office, I'm listening to "We Crown You" by Fee and thinking back on the last 4 weeks of the school, reminding myself of what we've learned, the fun times, the hard times, the God filled moments and intimated moments.

There's nothing quite like staffing a DTS, having one on ones with the students, encouraging them when things are difficult and expressing joy when things are bright! To have these moments when the Lord takes over my words are special. There have been many times when I've left a one on one thinking "wow God, that was totally You! Thank You." When we simply say yes He uses us!

Here are a few quotations from the last few weeks that have hit home:

"Suffering does not mean that God has stopped loving us." -The Hiding Place.

"It is no easy thing to stand in the palm of God." -The Hiding Place.

"Ask God what His will is for your life, but not unless you are willing to do it!" -Janet Ditto.

"God speaks to diligent enquirers, not mere acquaintances." -Joy Dawson.

"I'm never freer than when I'm walking in the perfect will of God." -Bridgett Blatz

"Without vision, people perish." -Bridgett Blatz

"It's not about rules and regulations, do's and don'ts, it's about a relationship with Jesus."

"Humility should be your strength, human strength turns to fear."


This is just a taster of what I've been getting each week!

Every Saturday we watch a movie to do with Compassion. One movie we watched was called The Power of One, all about apartheid. I was deeply moved by the main character's passion and get up and go to see the injustices changed. In the movie he hikes out to a massive waterfall which has so much power and in the moment he says "and it all begins with one drop!" That is one phrase that will stick with me forever. We can be that one drop.

Well I'm going to go have some Jesus time, play some guitar, tidy my room and soak up the sun while I can.

Cage break...

Last weekend I went to a Jonathan David Helser concert, and this is not just any kind of a concert. It was a time of breaking free from religion, letting go of things that have once held me down, letting God lead me in worship through dance and song and being a part of a generation rising up with passion to see the Lord's name be praised.

One of the songs we sang went like this:

"I'm gonna shout out loud,
let my voice be heard,
it's a song of victory,
ringing through earth!"

How often do we feel like our voice is not being heard? That our prayers are not doing anything? That we can't speak up? I think FAR too often!

Being in a room filled with youth, toddlers, older people and the middle aged who were crying out to the Lord, declaring that their voices will be heard whilst dancing on the chains of different things that have held us back was tear jerking. I'm so thankful that I can be a part of this generation rising up to see God be glorified. What an honour and a privilege.

God has given me a voice to not only stand up for what I believe is right and true but to speak up for those who don't have a voice, to intercede for the lost, to pray for the hurting, to speak light into the darkness, to disciple others and to encourage and build up those around me.

Our voices are full of power when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, satan wants nothing more than for us to keep silent. So I will not back down, I will cry out, I will stand up and fight because I know the One who has the key to victory.

The last two weeks we have had a couple come and share their hearts with us and the Discipleship Training School. They've covered forgiveness and reconciliation, relationships and foundations. They also showed us a video of Louie Giglio speaking at the Passion Conference (a massive conference for 20's, held each year in Atlanta, GA). It showed some of the stars that God breathed into being...I was wrecked after watching it. I almost don't have even have words to describe what it did to me, as I watched earth get zoomed out and onto the sun, a star that we think is fairly large and onto more and more stars many light years away that are way more MASSIVE than I could have ever imagined! I would recommend you watch it, it's called How Great is our God by Louie Giglio...

This school is fabulous, we have five students who I love already! They are so wonderful, energetic, ready to get out there and see the nations transformed through Christ. They're full of visions and dreams, passion and desire to fall more deeply in love with Jesus. :)

I love all of this. I love the fact that God has called me here for this time. I love North Carolina. I love my family over here. I love seeing beauty arise from the ashes in different aspects of my life.

Please be praying for my visa...it still has not come through yet, so I'm just waiting and praying, waiting and praying some more! I know it will all work out in His timing, for right now I will learn even more about patience.

Also here's a link to one of JDH's songs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4i9jMzGw9w It's called Endless Ocean. One of my favourite songs.

I love y'all and do so appreciate your support from your side of the pond and world.

Learning to be loved...

One week can provide a lot of changes...
from 25 girls all sharing on house, to me house sitting with Amanda and looking after Shock...a yellow lab.
from constantly hearing a guitar being played, to occasionally hearing myself strum the strings.
from no car, to being blessed with a car from a friend for a month.

These past few days have been days full of blessings, not only for myself but also for those around me. Amanda, one of the DTS students received the rest of her money, so tomorrow she will be venturing to the land of India to meet the rest of her group there. A friend of mine provided me with a purple bicycle, which I love and I'm now riding everywhere, even if I only have to walk down the road. The Lord truly pours HIS blessings upon us, which I'm so thankful for.

This next week holds lots of busy times! Preparation, cleaning the house, recruiting, writing emails and finishing up last minute details before the big day...Sunday. The day when 5 students (so far) will arrive at the Blakeney House to spend the next six months with us. :)

Recently I've been learning how to be loved by God. The only way I'll truly be able to love myself is by letting God love me first. And that can be easier said then done.

White Christmas.

My dream came true for the first time in my life...snow began falling at midnight last night and when I awoke this morning the ground was sprinkled with a thin layer of white stuff. :)

Christmas with the Roegers is like I'm home. This is the second year that I've been able to spend my Christmas week with them. I now have my own stocking hanging over their fireplace! They've been very generous at welcoming me into their beautiful home and letting me join in with all of their traditions. Hot chocolate with coffee, sausage and gravy with biscuits, driving to see Christmas lights, Church on Christmas eve, bowling, lunch at a steakhouse, the Olive Garden, card games, watching Elf and Christmas Vacation and spending time with the grandbabies.

Of course it's not just about the presents, the traditions and the snow. I don't ever want to forget my Saviour, the reason why I'm here in the US, the reason that I want to go to India, the reason I desire to see injustices changed and those who don't have a voice, speaking up for themselves in the name of Jesus.

This is a time to remember.

Tacky Christmas Sweaters...

Yay for Tacky Christmas Sweaters!

The Whole YWAM-Charlotte Family.

Karyn & Me (January DTS Staff minus the guys).

Me & Berk.

This last week we celebrated Christmas with cookies, tacky Christmas jumpers(!), "All I want for Christmas is you...", white elephant gifts, frost, stuffed mushrooms and fruit pizza. It was definitely a memorable evening, lots of laughs, fun and games.

We've had an amazing week of lectures...Kristy Wilkie came down from Montana to speak on Passion! Everyone has left this week filled to the brim and overflowing and desiring more of the Lord in our lives. Even when we don't necessarily "feel" Him, we can still worship with everything that's in us and prayer from the depths of our hearts and intercede with a brokenness for the lost.

Today is the DTS' yard sale / bake sale / car wash to raise money for India! They've put so much hard work and planning into this. They're also having face painting and a prayer booth. I'm so proud of each one of them for not just sitting still and just praying for support but actually getting out there and doing something towards it! :)

One and a half weeks of lecture phase and then it's off for Christmas break! I'll be traveling home with my friend Katherine, to her family in Nashville, Tennessee. I'm excited to road trip, eat dunkin' donuts and sip on coffee and chat as we ride through the Smoky Mountains. Ashton and Tiffany, two girls from the DTS will also be riding with us which will make it even more fun!

If you could please be praying for these last moments that we share altogether before we leave for Christmas that they will be special times, filled with the Holy Spirit and getting on more of an intimate level with each other as well as with the Lord, also that the Lord will continue to provide the way to India and that we will have more students coming in for the January Discipleship Training School! Thank you all so much for your constant prayers and support. I truly appreciate your hearts.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Santy Clause.

We are officially weird.

This is what it looks like when short people high five.

We had small group under the car port...a fire, sparking red grape juice, holiday pretzels and talks of Christmas.

Hot Chocolate. Thick Coats. Rainboots. Christmas music. Crocheted berets. Rain. Christmas Trees. Pumpkin Pie. Thanksgiving. Sweet Potato Casserole. More Christmas music. Gloves. Bare trees. Cold noses. Scented candles and even more Christmas music.

This is my favourite time of year. When I start praying for snow to come in, just so I can have a white December and wishfully I'll say Christmas! Across the pond it's a blanket of white, where the lakes are frozen and cars come to halt.

We celebrated Thanksgiving last week with dressing up, having a feast in our base directors' new extension and having four days to rest, relax and watch Little Women-best movie in creation, by the way.

This last week we had Bob Felder come and speak to us from Miami, Florida. It was all about evangelism, how everyday is outreach day, just because we're going to the mall for the day does not mean to say we have a day off of talking to people about Jesus. It needs to be incorporated into our everyday living. He also shared his heart about Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. I learned so much through his teaching and got new perspectives on evangelizing.

God is good. He is teaching me a lot in my own heart as well as things that are outward focused.

Promised Photos.

On the way to Boone, NC.

Team Victory.

Team SCAB aka Steven, Cassie, Amanda & Brittany

My house for last week.

My heart land

This is how short people wash their dishes.

Redefined Friendship.

Berkeley.

DTSer Hannah. One of my favourite people EVER.

Grey TOM Thursday...Tradition.

The Sunshine State.

Saturday 6th November
Distance Traveled: I dunno, but it took 10 hours.
Destination: Orlando, Florida.

I've only been to Florida once before, if you can even count it. I remember staying overnight in a hotel in Miami and being so hot I couldn't sleep. Well this week was slightly different...

We headed down through South Carolina, Georgia and into the Sunshine State and stayed overnight in Jacksonville with one of our close friends, Hovde. I'll just let you know our 12 passenger van managed to get through an awful lot of Hershey's Chocolate Cookies!

The next day we hit the road so we could arrive on schedule in Orlando. Setting up tents, registering, having meetings, unloading the van, and eating was what the day consisted of.

That night we snuggled down into our sleeping bags thinking "this is Florida, I won't need too many blankets!" How wrong we all were! As the night wore on we found ourselves constantly waking up and throwing on more hoodies, socks, jackets...anything we could find to keep up slightly warmer! Nothing seemed to help. So on Monday we made a trip to Super Target where most of us invested in a sleeping bag or a fleece blanket of some kind.

We started the day off with a banging hot breakfast, oatmeal, eggs, sausage, bacon, croissants and orange juice and then walked over to the lecture hall. Those first few days were all the South East Conference, DTSers and staff joining together to worship, have fun, hear from speakers and pray together. Always an amazing time when the Spirit moves and you feel full of God.

On Wednesday began the 50th Celebration of YWAM. The title being The Flame Goes Forward! And that night 600 YWAMers came together with candles and thanked the Lord for His faithfulness over the last 50 years. A time of looking back, enjoying the present and anticipating the amazing things the Lord is going to do in the future. I wish I could describe to you just how wonderful it was to sing and pray in the candlelight with radical Jesus lovers.

Sometimes I find myself thinking about another life but I am quickly brought back to the reality of the calling the Lord has placed upon my life. To live radically, to go to the lost in the dark places and to be an ordinary woman used by an extraordinary God. I'm slowly learning that I don't need the things of this world. At the end of the day if all I have is Jesus, that will be enough.

This past week I learned a new song which I find myself humming all the time:
"All this pain I wonder if I’ll even find my way I wonder if my life could really change at all All this earth Could all that is lost ever be found Could a garden come up from this ground at all You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of the dust You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of us All around Hope is springing up from this old ground Out of chaos life is being found in You You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of the dust You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of us You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of the dust You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of us You make me new, You are making me new You make me new, You are making me new" ~by Gungor

As I was just writing this I began thinking about how much I love Loren & Darlene Cunningham (the founders of YWAM), their commitment, love for God and their love for others and I was quickly taken to who they remind me of...my Grandparents. I look up to, love and respect my Grandpa and my Grandma. They have fought hard when things have been tough, their have been faithful in their Christian walk, they have been humble when it could have been easy to be proud, they have a desire to see the light of God shine in their community, they have walked out in the calling the Lord has given to them and have risen up as strong warriors in the faith. I thank God for these two precious people that have invested so much into me since before I was born. Thank you Grandma & Grandpa for your dedication, love and support. I love you both so much. And thank You Lord for such a rich heritage.

2 weeks on.

Two weekends ago we road tripped to Boone, NC. A gorgeous location in the mountains where we could view the changing of the leaves, from every shade of green to vibrant yellows, orange and red. The pictures doesn't do it justice. We packed up our vans at 11:30 in the morning, bringing plenty of trail mix to snack on, mountain dews and chocolate milk to gulp, Disney music to listen to and wonderful company to make the trip special.

We chatted, laughed, shared hearts and sang for the two hours it took us to drive there. When we arrived in the heart of the mountains we rolled down the windows, cranked up Hillsong worship and rode around admiring God's handiwork, tears fell at viewing the beauty of creation. A moment that I will forever cherish.

We stopped every now and again to snap photos, sit by lakes, hike up trails, ramble through the woods and relax in the sun.

At 7pm we turned into Woodlands BBQ, ordered our southern BBQ with beans, slaw, hush puppies and corn and enjoyed one another's company with the sound of College Football on TV in the background. We then rode back home as the stars pinned themselves onto the black cushion of the sky.

Content.

Last week we had a speaker called Pat who spoke on Sexuality. It was so helpful having a Godly woman openly speak to us what many people are too embarrassed to talk about. A week I won't forget.

This past weekend everyone decided they wanted to participate in a YWAM Charlotte Volleyball Tournament...so that's what we did. Dressed up crazy looking, as we do and hit that ball around for hours. My team had Victory written across our faces, losers may have been a better phrase to write.

The DTSers are just amazing. I love each one of them and I'm inspired by them. They are all so willing to lay their lives down for the Lord and seek His heart for them.

This week we have been walking the students through Ancient Paths. A process of being released from deep wounds, plucking sin out of our lives, rebuking lies that we have believed for so long and walking out in freedom. It's been intense, difficult and exhausting for everybody involved. Inner healing is always like that.

I'm so thankful that the Lord forgives, restores and redeems. Through everything His love is unconditional.

God...God...God. I wish I could find the words to describe how awesome He is and all the wonderful things He has done for me.

Thank You God for loving me. Thank You God for setting me free. Thank You God that I can find my identity in You. Thank You God for leading and guiding me. Thank You God for giving me the strength each day to live out my calling. I LOVE YOU.

"I've seen I AM, now I know that I am loved. I've seen I AM, now I know who I am." ~Jonathan David Helser

I am full of excitement at what I am about to share. As many of you know, I struggle with back problems, stemming from different injuries over the years. Also I have problems with my knees and recently my left knee began hurting all the more, mainly from playing more sport and going running more often. Last Thursday during intercession one of our friends knew the Lord was asking him to call forward anyone with a left leg problem so that we could pray for healing. Two of us came forward, we were prayed for, believed in the power of the Lord and were healed!!!!!!!!!! Since then my knee has just been AMAZING. The Lord really does work miracles. Later that night after sharing at the Church service what had happened that morning, I went and asked for prayer again, but this time for my back. As my friend was praying I felt the pain move from the left side of my back to the right side of my back and then left my body. I now only have a slight pain in my shoulders and in the lower part of my right back. I got my friend to feel to see if a lot of my knots were loosened and they were! Since then I have not felt any pain in the left side of my back. PRAISE GOD! The Great Physician has worked another miracle in my life. I cannot express to you how excited I am to wake up in the morning feeling so much more free, able to lift up fairly heavy things without an ache in my back and to move around more freely on the volleyball court.

How awesome is our God?



pictures to come.

Whoops.

And I forgot to add...after that it was rush, rush, rush to get everything prepared for the DTS, guidelines made, spring cleaning done, cars washed, food bought, manuals made up and last minute phone calls. I've learned a lot through this...I'm thankful that this year I was able to experience the last minute preparations before everyone arrived.

Lakehouse.

Taken right from the dock.

Friends.

Truly shows each of our characters.

One morning we swam across this lake and then kayaked back...

I realise that I have not blogged in quite a while...hence the two posts coming up.

This first one is all about the weeks leading up to DTS.

We had a staff retreat about an hour away from our house...we traveled up in our new van, singing songs, reading books and chit chatting. I was expecting to arrive at a fairly small log house by the side of a lake, um no...we came up to a big house with lots of windows overlooking a small dock and a gorgeous lake.

The three days were spent having meetings, swimming in the lake, kayaking, lounging and reading, drying off in the warm sun, worshiping, the boys playing the guitar, laughing and talking in the moonlight.

I wish pictures would show exactly what a place looked like and all the emotions you were feeling at the time. However Berkeley has captured well the place where God spoke many words over my life, where He danced over me and sung softly while I watched the moon shimmer over the waters edge.

Fall.

Tie Dye Time!

These last two weeks have been full of excitement. DTS has begun, our house is full of girls, the leaves are changing colour, our mornings have been full of lectures, prayer, worship and intercession.

The other night everyone ran out to Salvation Army to find cheap white shirts to make tie dye. A lot of fun was had making up new designs, getting hands covered in pinks and blues and the next day rinsing them out to see what they all looked like.

On Thursday we had RESET, a time of praying for one another and personal time with God. At the end this song was played which spoke straight to my heart:

"My chains are gone,
I've been set free,
My God my Saviour has ransomed me,
and like a flood His mercy reigns,
unending love,
AMAZING GRACE."

I'm still learning what it means to walk out in the freedom that the Lord has given me. What it truly means to be forgiven.

On Friday morning we announced that India will be the outreach location. I wish you all could have seen the excitement that filled the classroom, we played a slideshow with Indian background music which everyone got up to dance to and then we celebrated with cups of ginger chai and samosas made by Indians themselves. :)

That night we finished off the week with a bang by watching Slumdog Millionaire out on the Front Porch.

This weekend has been spent playing Football (English), having a staff meeting, going to Church, writing letters, accounting, making quick trips to Walmart and celebrating the birthday of Tiffany~one of my roomies and one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet. As she is a sweet tooth, chocolate chip cookies were made and milk was poured...hmm.

Everyone is beginning to get to know each other on a deeper level now which is so exciting, I love intimacy.

God is doing amazing works in this school. The works of the Spirit are so evident in each worship time, during prayer and even while everyone is listening to the speakers. They are all an incredible group, on fire for God, yearning for more, wanting to be broken for the lost, desiring to have their hearts connected with the Father, willing to see lives changed, daring to step out into the unknown and expecting God to move.

I love seeing God move.